Deirdre O Brien Child Advocacy Center Of Morris County A New

Nonprofit Issues:

Children & Youth, Mental Health, Crime & Law

Address:

8 Court St MorristownNJ07960USA

Mission:

To provide a child friendly enviroment for child victims of abuse and neglect and for children that have witnessed domestic violence, so that they may receive the investigative, medical and clinical counseling services they need to heal from the trauma they have experienced and go on to lead happy and productive lives.

Programs:

Child Advocacy Program served 643 child in 2003 benefitting all the victims that used the Center. DEAR Camp program: provides summer day camp sessions to the camp of the child's choice. We sent over 50 children to camp in the past two years. SHINE Program: provides after school scholarships to the activity of the child's choice free of charge. This especially provides a respite for the child how has witnessed domestic violence in the home. Counseling Program: Counseling is provided to all victims and family members free of charge for as long as they feel necessary.

Reviews for Deirdre O Brien Child Advocacy Center Of Morris County A New

The agency regularly seeks to improve/expand the services they provide to children and families. They are solution focused and collaborate well with the larger community. They leverage dollars wherever they can to maintain their current level of programming but it is a constant battle in today's economy. I see families' lives changed for the better through the services this agency offers. They seek to educate the general public about the issues they face and do a good job of drawing experts in the field to support this.

Will you recommend this organization to others?

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

Deirdre’s House is a welcoming, nurturing place for children who have been recent victims of abuse and/or neglect. Instead of being retraumatized by a visit to an emergency room or a police station, the child is welcomed into a homelike setting, where (s)he can be examined in a child-centered examination room, and can be interviewed by a “plain clothes” police officer in a room full of age appropriate toys and furniture, while recording devices and other intimidating electronic equipment are behind closed doors in another room. And since most abuse victims require extensive counseling to heal, Deirdre’s House provides that too. In fact, as other area counseling centers have recently closed, Deirdre’s House is becoming the counseling center of last resort, sometimes the only option for a severely abused child from a family of limited means. Deirdre’s House also provides camp experiences and after school experiences, to help abused and neglected children find enjoyable pastimes and passions in safe, supervised environments. Deirdre’s House is a godsend to Morris County’s (and nearby areas) child abuse victims, and particularly to those from low-income families. Other centers have closed their doors. If Deirdre’s House were ever to do that, it would strike a severe blow for the hundreds of victims it serves.

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

Deirdre's House gives children who have been robbed of their innocent childhoods another chance at a happy childhood. The crimes of physical, sexual and emotional abuse can leave lasting scars. Deirdre's House is a child friendly place where children can feel safe and secure from further abuse The interior rooms are decorated in age appropriate themes where a child sits in a comfortable setting and is interviewed by only one person. The interview is recorded by hidden cameras which means that the child only needs to tell their story once to one person. The videos of the interviews are often used as evidence in court during the trial of the accused. Children receive forensic examinations from specially trained physicians in a room attractively decorated without looking clinical. Please consider Deirdre's House, a Morris County treasure, when considering financial donations or philanthropic ventures.

Will you recommend this organization to others?

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

Seen as a leader in the community for the work they do. Provides a much needed servicefor children in families in crisis. I woukd love to see them have the fundings and staff available to establish long term counseling services for children and families.

How much of an impact do you think this organization has?

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

Deirdre's House provides more services for the dollar than any other non-profit organization to which I contribute or on whose board I have served. Maria Savettiere, Deirdre's House Executive Director, seems to have thrown the word "No" out of her vocabulary: she and her staff are tireless in trying to give every child and his family the help they need - - when they need it. It's not easy to hear that child abuse continues to occur routinely - - but at least Deirdre's House is there to help these kids heal and get their lives back on track.